Means for heat sealing receptacles



June 26, 1951 D M N MEANS FOR HEATSEALING RECEPTACLES Filed June 18, 1948 m me N N p. E 0 Wk T 1. #7

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Patented June 26,1951

uui'rso s'rA'rss rA'rENroa-rics MEANS son 3326 nacnnracass um, m. Nitro, w. Va.

Application June 18, 1948, Serial No. 38,861 a cam; (01. 226-2) My invention relates to means for heat-sealing receptacles,-and more particularly tomeans for heat-sealing the open ends of receptacles formed of thermoplastic sheet material. The apparatus disclosed hereinafter is particularly adapted for heat-sealing the open ends of transparent thermoplastic tubes adapted to contain small objects, such as coins or stamps, whereby the objects are protected against handling, but may be readily displayed.

'With the foregoing in view, it is an object of my invention to provide improved apparatus for heat-sealing thermoplastic receptacles.

A further object is to provide an improved means for heat-sealing the open ends of thermoplastic receptacles, and wherein both open ends of the tubular receptacle are sealed simultaneously.

A further object is to provide improved apparatus for heat-sealing the open ends of thermoplastic tubes simultaneously and simultaneously trimming such open ends.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement ofthe several parts thereof, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according tothe invention showing the position of the parts just prior to a sealing operation;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the'line 2-2 of Figure 1, but showing the position of the parts during the sealing operation;

Figure 3 .is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1 with the parts shown in the Figure 1 position;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1, the cover being shown in the fully open position.

Referring specifically to the drawing. wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, ill designates generally any suitable base for the device which preferably is in the form of a rectangular housing including a bottom wall H, side walls I! and front and rear walls [3 and M, respectively. A presser member I! comprising a lid or cover for thereceptacle or base it is hingedly secured to the upper edge of the rear I from the side walls It, as best seen in Figure 2,

free edges 22 for a purpose to be described. The platform I! comprises a support for any suitable small object, such as the coin it which is enclosed in an openended tube It of thermoplastic sheet material. Inasmuch as the device according to the inven tion is particularly adapted for the sealing of flat objects, such as coins or stamps, the presser member or lid it has been disclosed as being flat, whereby it closely overlies the object to be sealed.

and the tube enclosing the same, At the same time, it should be understood that when the device is utilized for the sealing of thicker objects,

the central portion of the presser member or lid i5 is suitably recessed to permit the upper extension of such bulky objects therethrough. 1

The upper edges 20 of the side walls ii are formed to provide stationary cutter bars. The side edges of the pressermember it are downwardly directed to provide flanges adapted to closely overlie the side surfaces of the side walls I! whenthepressermember llismoved to the closed of the flanges II are bev'el'ed, Figure 2, and are preferably upwardly inclined from thereartothefmnhasshowninl'igureslandt. whereby they provide movable cutter bars adapted to cooperate with the stationary cutter bars "to trim the openends of the tube It as the presser member II is moved to the closed position. The under surface of the presser member. it is provided with a pair of longitudinallyextending movable laws 23 which are located:

parallel to and inwardly adjacent to the movable cutter bars. Such jaws 28 are adapted to flatten the open ends of the complementary flxed jaws 24 carried .by the base II in laterally inwardly-adjacent relation to the side walls l2. As clearly shown 2, the upper surfaces of the fixed jaws 24 extend slightly above the platform ll. Means now to be described are eirective to heat the stationary Jaws 24, whereby to heat-seal the open ends of the tube I! when the same are flattened by thev pressure of the movable ent from the foregoing, trimming operations ously when the presser member I5 is moved from theFlgureltothel lgui-e'zposition.

AsbestseeninFigureslland 3,the floor Ii for the base It has mounted thereon a sheet of any suitable insulating material It which supjaws 23. As is apparthe flattening sealing and position shown in Figure 2. The

tube l9 against in Figures 1 and.

occur virtually simultane I ports any suitable electric beating element 20.

The element 20 is operatively connected'to any suitablesoureeotaieotrioenergnnotshowm rtm'esasdesired. Aecesstothe knob 2lism0-' vided by removing the platform H from the base I. with the presser member is raised. This is permitted by the fact that the platform 11 is removably seated upon ledges or lugs 3i formed on the front and rear walls I: and ll of the base ll. Obviously, other means for supporting the platform ll may be provided. A sheet 30 of any suitable insulating but heat-conducting mate-v rial. such as mica, rests atop the heating element 2! and supports the stationary jaws 24 is susceptible of other forms and expressions.

Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described 'hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for heat-sealing the open ends of a thermoplastic tube, comprising a base, a platform fixed to said base and adapted to sum port the tube thereon, a pair of laterally-spaced fixed laws on opposite sides of said platform and adapted to underlie the open ends of the tube, a pressure member, a pair of laterally-spaced movable Jaws fixed to said pressure member, said movable jaws being coextensive with said stationary jaws, hinge means hingediy mounting said pressure member on said base whereby said movable jaws are movable into and out of an operative position adapted to flatten both open ends 0! the tube simultaneously against said stationary jaws, a replaceable heating element carried by said base, said stationary jaws resting atop said element, and said stationary jaws being heated by conduction from said element.

thereon. Thus, such laws 24 are heated by conduction from the heating element 16 through the sheet II. Obviously, it desired, the heating element could be applied directly to the stationary jaws 24 in a well'known manner. However, the construction here disclosed permits a relatively simple heating element to be provided which is readily removed and replaced when the same is burned-out or damaged. Obviously, in the construction shown the jaws 24 are formed of metallic material having a high heat conductivity- It follows from the foregoing that the device provided is compact in nature. whereby to occupy but little space when not in use, has a high degree 0! portability and is remarkably rapid and efllcient in use, Thus, the collector of coins or stamps need not provide himself with any particular size of plastic tube, but may readily form his own tubes is by wrapping a sheet of themeplastic sheet material about the object to be sealed so that the edges overlap. as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 at 32. Thereafter, the wrapped obiect is placed upon the platform II, the heating element 20 is energized. and the presser member i5 is pressed downwardly to the Figure 2 position, whereby the open ends of the tube It are simultaneously sealed and trimmed, whereby to provide a sealed transparent container of uniform size which is particularly advantageous in the storing and/or filing of the sealed objects.

Thus, while I have shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment oi. the invention. it is to be understood that the same 2. Apparatus for heat-sealing the open ends of a thermoplastic tube. comprising a base, a platform fixed to said base and adapted to support the tube thereon, a pair of laterally-spaced fixed jaws on opposite sides of said platform and adapted to underlie the open ends of the tube. a pressure member. a pair of laterally-spaced movable jaws fixed to said pressure member, said movable jaws being coextensive with said stationary jaws. hinge means hingedly mounting said pressure member on said base whereby said movable jaws are movable into and out of an operative position adapted to flatten both open ends of the tube simultaneously against said stationary jaws, means for heating at least one pair of jaws whereby to heat-seal said flattened ends of said tube, a fixed cutter bar in laterally-outwardlyadjacent relation to each stationary jaw, a movable cutter bar fixed to each movable jaw in laterally-outwardly-adjacent relation thereto, and said movable cutter bars cooperating with said stationary cutter bars to trim both ends of said tube simultaneously with the sealing thereof.

DEWEY M. KING.

REFERENCES crrsn The following references are of record in the die of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 777,744 Pavl Dec. 20, 1904 2,119,358 Schari May 31, 1933 2,140,117 Salfisberg Dec. 13, 1938 2,502,738 Nicolle Apr. 4, 1950 

